At the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, addressed disturbing reports that a Magistrate in Ekiti State allegedly ordered the arrest of any lawyer seeking to lift a freezing order on behalf of their clients.
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The NBA President assured members that the association would swiftly investigate the matter. If confirmed, the NBA would take decisive action, including the possibility of boycotting proceedings at the affected court.
The alleged directive, reportedly issued at the Ikole Magistrate Court, has triggered outrage within the legal community, with many condemning it as a direct assault on the legal profession and the constitutional right of lawyers to represent their clients without fear or intimidation. The NBA has vowed to uphold the rule of law and hold accountable any judicial officer or legal practitioner involved in what it describes as an unacceptable affront to justice.
Recall that an Ekiti State Magistrate Court in Ikole Ekiti issued a stern ruling mandating the arrest of any lawyer or individual attempting to lift a Post-No-Debit (PND) order on a suspect’s bank account without proper authorization from the police. The ruling was delivered on January 23, 2025, by Chief Magistrate Oluwadare T.O. in a case involving the Inspector General of Police against Keystone Bank and the Nineteenth Kid Estate Residents Association. The case centers on allegations of fraud, conspiracy, and financial misconduct.
As part of the court’s directive, Keystone Bank was ordered to freeze the suspect’s accounts and provide relevant financial documents to aid police investigations. The court also ruled that any lawyer or individual attempting to lift the restriction without the police’s consent should be immediately apprehended. “The PND should not be lifted unless the suspect has reported to the police. Any lawyer or person who seeks to lift the restriction without police authorization should be arrested,” the order stated.
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